It was the fall of 1911 when America's first magic "union," The Society of Baltimore Magicians had disbanded. Arthur D. Gans, Thomas C. Worthington III and a few others however decided to form a stronger union among magicians. The Demons Club was inaugurated on December 7, 1911 at Gan's home in Roland Park.
The first elected officials of The Demons Club were Frank P. Knight and Charles Ziegler, President and Vice President respectively. It was Zeigler who in fact came up with the name, The Demons Club. Early meetings were held at Lafayette Hall and at members homes.
ORIGINAL DEMONS CLUBHOUSE
The Demons Club was the first magic club in the world to have its own club house! That's how they roll in Baltimore, moving here on Belvedere Avenue, near Pimlico, on September 17, 1917! Members donated time and effort to convert former office building into a miniature theater with footlights and private boxes dubbed the 'Kellar' and 'Thurston.'
The first public performance was held on a freezing, snowy night to a full house of sixty in early December, 1917, with an old stove keep the place warm.
During the first World War, The Demons Club did its part by entertaining soldiers at Camp Meade, Colgate Creek, Fort Howard and many other places. The Demons Club remained at service of the War Recreations Committee for the war's duration. The club met bi-monthly and would occasionally hold open house, welcoming all to visit and be amazed.
THE NEXT GENERATION OF NOTABLE CLUB MEMBERS
Woben Smith, George Most, Ed Yeyl, Louis "Imp" Smith, Harry Watkins, Seymour Ziegler and Joe Bruno
wearing their red and horned Imp caps
December 13, 1923
Arthur Gans performing his renowned billiard ball routine for a banquet at Mount Royal Station organized by Gans and the B&O railroad in the 'Martha Washington' diner and club car!
How cool is that?
The tickets read “KELTHURMA”
(the name derived from Kellar/Thurston/magic)
HISTORY PRESERVED THROUGH THE WRITINGS OF
ROBERT W. TEST, JOE BRUNO, WILLIAM V. RAUSCHER
AND JEFF ELINE AT THE
SOCIETY OF AMERICAN MAGICIANS BALTIMORE ASSEMBLY # 6
& DAVID KIDD AT THE MAGIC OF BALTIMORE
GRAPHICS BY KIDDMAGIC
Magicians who have graced the stage of
The Demons Club
ALEXANDER
JOHN CALVERT
THEO BAMBERG
HOWARD THURSTON
HARRY BLACKSTONE SR.
HENRY RIDGELY EVANS
HARRY HOUDINI
DANTE
Arch Demon Supreme Harry Kellar
Honorary Arch Demon Supreme Howard Thurston
Vice Arch Demon Charles Fulton Oursler
Arch Demon
Thomas C. Worthington III
ARTHUR D. GANS THOMAS C. WORTHINGTON iii
Noted Demons Club members During World War I
An original Demons Club imp cap. Photo courtesy of Owen Oldaker from Ken Klosterman's "Salon de Magie" collection in Cincinnati, Ohio
An original Demons Club magazine!!!
Thomas C. Worthington III was the first member to join the Demons Club and also the first to leave. In 1923, he formed the Society of Osiris after his increasing agitation at the club's lack of exclusivity, calling it's members "the Peeping Tom's of magic."
DEMONS CLUB
MEMBERS OF THE PAST
(UNDER DEVELOPMENT)
Bruno, Joe
Dane, Jack
Hambuger, Dr. Louis (noted doctor at John Hopkins)
Kellar, Harry
Oursler, Fulton C.
Price, Harry
Smith, Louis "Imp"
Smith, Woben
Test, Robert W. (Director of Baltimore's better business bureau)
Thurston, Howard
Watkins, Harry
Worthington, Thomas C.
Yeyl, Edward
Zerr, William
Ziegler, Seymour
On March 26th, 1914 the first Demon’s banquet for America’s foremost magician, Howard Thurston was held. This picture was taken around a decade later in the early 1920s.
Now, 70 years later, the Demons Club is resurrected as a social media group for magicians only in honor of Thomas C. Worthington's original vision.
A meeting of The Pyramid Magic and Demons Clubs... Phil Thomas, Bob Tilford, Ernest Marx, Milbourne Christopher and others with Howard Thurston.
The second World War brought on the demise of the Demons Club in Baltimore, taking many younger members overseas. Other contributing factors were the fact that many original "Demons" had expired or were elderly and other magic clubs such as The Society of Orsisis, The Pyramid Magic Club and Yogi Magic Club had all been established in the Baltimore metropolitan area.
1916: Inside the Demons Clubhouse!!!
A very rare and recently unearthed photograph by yours truly.
Howard Thurston is the very center. Louis Shilling (Demon's Secretary) is on the very left. Demon's Club President Frank P. Knight, is directly behind Thurston with Club founder Arthur D. Gans smiling next to him.
On the right are vice president Charles Zeigler (looking to the side) & founder Thomas C. Worthington III .
(Note the photo of Kellar and Thurston in the background)
This hung in the clubhouse for years, used to encourage younger members
to work hard at developing their craft. Photo courtesy Michael Schwabe from Ken Klosterman's "Salon de Magie" collection in Cincinnati, Ohio
